Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 2171: Chapter 2166: Confinement (40)

"Huh? Drive the car?"

The sudden request clearly disrupted Rachel’s train of thought.

Nevertheless, she ultimately complied, only daring to drive straight as instructed while cautiously asking a question.

"No."

With his gaze still fixed on her face, Fu Qian denied this guess.

That was...

Looking more confused than ever, yet under such scrutiny, Rachel finally lacked the courage to continue asking.

Moreover, it felt like the hairs on her face were standing on end.

Unfortunately, even though he clearly noticed this, Fu Qian was still not kind enough to explain.

With the discomfort of feeling like needles on the back, the prison soon appeared in sight.

...

"I’ll wait for you here."

As the car smoothly drove through the gate, Rachel finally showed a hint of backbone, not attempting to ask further questions, and not even preparing to get out of the car, directly indicating for Fu Qian to be quick.

"Alright."

Given everything that’s happened up to this point, this reaction was considered polite.

Fu Qian, who always had self-awareness, was not displeased by this tone and directly opened the car door and stepped out.

Not entering the Inner World.

With a glance, it could be seen that more than one person was active, the most vibrant area of the entire town.

And the returning pink car seemed to attract more attention than when it had left.

Even more so because the driver didn’t get out, the looks directed at them were more playful.

However, Rachel appeared very calm, seemingly long accustomed to such gazes.

"Where are you going?"

Yet this composure seemed to waver upon realizing the direction Fu Qian was heading.

Indeed, he didn’t go to drive, nor did he wander around randomly; instead, his route looked very clear, precisely the path she had guided him through before...

"Your studio is over there?"

And Fu Qian’s response confirmed Rachel’s suspicion.

"... What are you going there to do?"

Rachel was baffled, never expecting the other person intended to head there.

"Looking for something."

Fu Qian uncharacteristically kept it vague.

"I don’t remember you leaving anything there?"

Rachel was clearly dissatisfied with this answer.

Although she hadn’t locked the door when leaving, such irrational intrusion still felt uncomfortable.

Hey—

Unfortunately, Fu Qian didn’t respond and continued to walk away.

Crack!

The tension lasted barely more than two seconds before Rachel directly opened the door and hurriedly chased after him.

...

"Don’t touch my paintings; take your time with everything else."

The two barely passed each other upon entering, not even both getting out of the car beforehand.

Yet Rachel seemed not to care about all the curious glances, urgently chasing him into the room and emphasizing not to disturb her artwork while others were free to explore.

Although at a glance, there was nothing extra to be found.

"Makes sense; these things aren’t yours, right?"

Fu Qian showed no objection, slightly nodding, and gesturing toward a pile of junk in the corner.

"Of course not, I was merely tidying up."

Rachel unconsciously shook her head, unexpectedly realizing he came to collect junk.

"That’s good."

Fu Qian didn’t say more, directly walking up, eyeing a wooden cabinet placed outward.

Not too secure; even the lock was rusted and made one doubt if it could still be opened — it could.

With a soft sound, Fu Qian had already swung the cabinet open with fluidity as though it was his own home.

The cabinet had two levels, the top panel was already somewhat distorted.

Yet, despite such commotion, there was no response from below.

"How did you open it—"

Rachel’s shock continued, but it was quickly interrupted by Fu Qian’s actions.

Casually pulling up the panel, Fu Qian looked at a frail figure curled up underneath.

Dennis... really was here.

"Trash... you have no idea what you’ve done."

Almost simultaneously, a vicious voice echoed.

Of course, it wasn’t Fu Qian rudely swearing — he was the one being cursed.

...

Professionals always achieve multiple gains; leaving the car here was mainly to get a free ride with a married woman driver and detector, besides the married woman itself was key.

And the coin in the hospital, apart from tossing it to the potentially lurking Old Hunter, was also for this involved person.

Too normal.

Clearly from what was done, he was seen as a source of trouble, yet from the start of the task till now, Rachel’s performance was instead the most normal.

She had a pursuit of ideals, a sense of family responsibility, and compromises with violence... In any situation, she played the role of a slightly frustrated young woman, leaving no flaw.

But how does the saying go, having no flaw is the biggest flaw.

In a decaying and twisted place, being young, strong-willed, emotionally unsuccessful, even with a hint of artistic flair, and near the source of distortion for not a short time.

Such a character, facing stimuli again and again, what capital to maintain such normalcy?

Human will is as fragile as flesh, regardless of the surface, most people’s mental depth in this place should be somewhat manic, like her husband Ed.

Thus, ever since Rachel’s appearance, her overly proper responses piqued Fu Qian’s interest.

Though not enough to conclude something, it clearly inclined him to keep her around, developing value while observing in tandem.

In the end, her responses remained so proper, even potentially watching over a pile of corpses or when personal secrets might be exposed.

Right until the moment of completely opening the box, not a flaw found.

Indeed, only a paranoid can portray ultimate peace?

Fu Qian turned his gaze, looking at that face with a sort of devouring menace.

Clearly still exquisite, yet seemingly unable to contain a beast lurking beneath.

"I know, didn’t I open it very cautiously?"

Fu Qian’s expression remained gentle, pointing to the scene inside the cabinet.

This was Rachel’s creation.

Though relatively abstract, Fu Qian could still understand this.

The boy inside the box was alive, at this moment even his eyeballs slowly turning, though his facial expression conveyed what a true living dead meant.

And the interior of the cabinet was painted in unsettling red and black, depicting a small windowless room.

As a result, his previous posture seemed curled in a maternal womb, an unborn fetus.

Absolute safety, having no need to regard the outside world.

Fu Qian felt he could still grasp what the creation intended to convey.

"So did he find you, asking for your help?"

Fu Qian truly didn’t rush to disturb the "infant", instead continuing to look at Rachel and ask.